I went to my friend Sue's for the first time the other day to help cook a French meal for another friend's class. I arrived just before sunset and as we planned the order of our evening I happened to look out the window to see a gorgeous purple and pink sunset! The entire day had been doubly doused in gray skies and clouds threatening some sort of precipitation so imagine our surprise. It distracted us just long enough from our onion soup preparations to enjoy the last few minutes of sunlight. Now that the days are so short I find myself appreciating more and more those last few minutes.

Even though they say it's the pollution that makes the sky these colors I can't help but let myself gasp each time I see one that stunning. My friend has some great property behind her house with a great clearing to see natural shows like this and I caught a few photos before she gave me a tour outside.

She's got these gorgeous weathered window frames in each window that add to the rustic feel of her house and make for fun photographic composition. I hadn't been paying attention to the time of day and it had been cloudy all morning and afternoon so as I walked past the window I stopped in some sort of shock. It was just so surprising to see after such a gloomy day. Sometime I feel odd just whipping out my camera but I can't help myself when I see something like this.

My camera was acting up a bit so I could only snap a couple, but I'm pleased with houw they turned out. It was pretty chilly out (it has been sooo cold here) so we quickly went back inside to stir the soup and turn over the chicken cordon bleu. There is nothing like a crock of piping hot soup in the middle of December (and, of course, a steaming cup of tea).

It's so lovely spending time with other women, in a toasty kitchen gabbing and gossiping and constantly poring over recipe cards. I really hated to leave but we're hoping to make this a recurring event this winter, something to look forward to for sure!